Answer :

To solve the equation [tex]\( x = \sqrt{2x + 15} \)[/tex], we will go through the following steps:

1. Square both sides of the equation to eliminate the square root.
[tex]\[ (\sqrt{2x + 15})^2 = x^2 \][/tex]
This simplifies to:
[tex]\[ 2x + 15 = x^2 \][/tex]

2. Rearrange the equation to form a standard quadratic equation. To do this, move all terms to one side of the equation:
[tex]\[ x^2 - 2x - 15 = 0 \][/tex]

3. Factorize the quadratic equation. We look for two numbers that multiply to [tex]\(-15\)[/tex] (the constant term) and add up to [tex]\(-2\)[/tex] (the coefficient of [tex]\(x\)[/tex]). These numbers are [tex]\(-5\)[/tex] and [tex]\(3\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ x^2 - 2x - 15 = (x - 5)(x + 3) = 0 \][/tex]

4. Set each factor to zero and solve for [tex]\(x\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ x - 5 = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad x + 3 = 0 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ x = 5 \quad \text{or} \quad x = -3 \][/tex]

5. Verify each potential solution by substituting it back into the original equation [tex]\( x = \sqrt{2x + 15} \)[/tex].

For [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ 5 = \sqrt{2(5) + 15} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 5 = \sqrt{10 + 15} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 5 = \sqrt{25} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 5 = 5 \][/tex]
This is true.

For [tex]\( x = -3 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ -3 = \sqrt{2(-3) + 15} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ -3 = \sqrt{-6 + 15} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ -3 = \sqrt{9} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ -3 = 3 \][/tex]
This is false.

6. Conclusion: The only valid solution is [tex]\( x = 5 \)[/tex]. The value [tex]\( x = -3 \)[/tex] does not satisfy the original equation since we can't take the square root of a number and get a negative result (as square roots are non-negative by definition).

Thus, the solution to the equation [tex]\( x = \sqrt{2x + 15} \)[/tex] is:
[tex]\[ x = 5 \][/tex]

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